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Reviews, Stage Reviews

Komische Oper Berlin 2025-26 Review: Orlando

https://operawire.com/komische-oper-berlin-2025-26-review-orlando/

(Photo: Jan Windszus Photography) With “Orlando,” Olga Neuwirth has not simply written an opera based on a Virginia Woolf novel, but a sprawling epic that seeks to be everything at once: a parable on gender, a cultural-historical chronicle, a political warning, a queer manifesto, a critique of the media, and a musical panorama of Western modernity. From the very beginning, {…}

News, Season Announcement

Jamie Barton, Max Hopp, Adela Zaharia, Stuart Skelton Lead Komische Oper Berlin’s 2026-27 Season

https://operawire.com/jamie-barton-max-hopp-adela-zaharia-stuart-skelton-lead-komische-oper-berlins-2026-27-season/

Komische Oper Berlin announces its 2026-27 season. The season opens with the premiere of Reimann’s “Lear.” Performance Date: September 16, 2026 Offenbach’s “Orpheus in the Underworld” is directed by Barrie Kosky. Performance Dates: October 9 – December 31, 2026 The return of Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin” is next. Performance Dates: October 24 – December 25, 2026 Franz Wittenbrink’s children’s opera, “Pippi {…}

Business, News

James Gaffigan Extends Contract with Komische Oper Berlin

https://operawire.com/james-gaffigan-extends-contract-with-komische-oper-berlin/

(Credit: Jan Windszus) General Music Director James Gaffigan has extended his contract with the Komische Oper Berlin. The conductor will continue with the opera company for an additional three years, continuing through Summer 2030. Gaffigan was appointed as General Music Director during the 2023-24 season and recently conducted new productions of “Salome,” “Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk,” and the joint Mahler 8 {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Komische Oper Berlin 2025 Review: Jesus Christ Superstar

https://operawire.com/komische-oper-berlin-2025-review-jesus-christ-superstar/

(Photo: Jan Windszus Photography) The Komische Oper Berlin’s colonization of Tempelhof Airport has by now hardened into ritual. Once again, Hangar 4 – cavernous, echoing with its aviation past – becomes a stage for the improbable. Tickets to “Jesus Christ Superstar” sold out so quickly, that two shows were added to meet the demand, proof that the company has mastered {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Komische Oper Berlin 2025 Review: Mahler’s ‘Symphony No. 8 in E-Flat Major’

https://operawire.com/komische-oper-berlin-2025-review-mahlers-symphony-no-8-in-e-flat-major/

(Photo: Jan Windszus Photography) Gustav Mahler’s 8th Symphony in E-flat major, often dubbed the “Symphony of a Thousand” did its moniker justice this time: It was put on by the Komische Oper Berlin in the huge Hangar 4 at the former Tempelhof Airport and counted 1030 participants – taking up the entire center stage plus two grandstands for the choirs. {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Komische Oper Berlin 2024-25 Review: Akhnaten

https://operawire.com/komische-oper-berlin-2024-25-review-akhnaten/

(Credit: Monika Rittershaus) Barrie Kosky’s new production of Philip Glass’s 1983 opera “Akhnaten,” running through April 20 at the Komische Oper Berlin, represents a long-overdue homecoming. This is the city most intimately connected with “Akhnaten’s” historical legacy; the archaeological treasures of the enigmatic Pharoah’s destroyed city, Tel-El-Amarna, excavated by Ludwig Borchardt with funding from the philanthropist James Simon in 1912 {…}

News, Season Announcement

Komische Oper Berlin Announces 2025-26 Season

https://operawire.com/komische-oper-berlin-announces-2025-26-season/

The Komische Oper Berlin has announced its 2025-26 season. Premieres The children’s opera “Con­rad or The fac­to­ry-made boy” by Samuel Penderbayne will star Mengqi Zhang, An­dre­ja Schnei­der, Phi­lipp Mei­er­hö­fer, Ul­rike Hel­zel, Jo­han­nes Dunz, and Jun­oh Lee­. An­ne Hin­rich­sen conducts the production by Ruth Brau­er-­Kvam. Performance Dates: Oct. 10-Dec. 26, 2025 James Gaffigan conducts a new production of Strauss’ “Salome.” The {…}

News

Komische Oper Berlin Cancel Planned Production Due to Budget Cuts

https://operawire.com/komische-oper-berlin-cancel-planned-production-due-to-budget-cuts/

The Komische Oper Berlin has canceled its production of “Mein Friend Bunbury.” Via social media, the company said, “We would like to start the year with some good news, but due to the austerity constraints in the ongoing Berlin household, it is with a heavy heart that we have to cancel the planned production of ‘Mein Friend Bunbury,’ which would {…}

Reviews, Stage Reviews

Komische Oper Berlin 2024-25 Review: Messiah

https://operawire.com/komische-oper-berlin-2024-25-review-messiah/

(Photo: Jan Windszus Photography) Ever since its premiere in 1742, George Frederic Handel’s “Messiah” has been considered a work of vocal and intellectual power. All the more so when it is performed in an airport hangar, with over 350 choir members, dramatically staged, on a stage over 180 feet wide. The Komische Oper Berlin hashtags #everything extraordinary – in large {…}